Apparatus for hydraulic planting

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus for dispensing seed or other particulate matter in the air to apply the particulate matter generally evenly over a target area on the ground. The seeds are entrained in a viscous, elastic carrier fluid, which facilitates the movement thereof through hydraulic equipment and holds the seeds together in the air to preclude segregation or drifting as the particles drop to the target area. The seed and carrier fluid mixture is either premixed and stored in storage chamber in the apparatus or is mixed immediately prior to being dispensed in the air. 
     One embodiment of the apparatus is utilized to broadcast seed over a relatively wide area and comprises a rotating spray head for dispensing the seed and carrier fluid mixture into the air. 
     Another embodiment of the apparatus is used to apply rows of crop seed and comprises a dispensing head for providing a narrow stream of the seed and carrier fluid mixture into the air.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 422,817, filed Dec. 7, 1973,now U.S. Pat. No. 3,920,184 which is relied upon and the entiredisclosure and specification of which is hereby incorporated byreference.

As a result of the needs of a growing and mobile society, vast portionsof land have been and are being dug up or otherwise disturbed such as inthe construction of highways, rail lines, land fills, etc. Furthermore,the growing demands for power have resulted in the widespreaddespoilation of land such as that resulting from strip miningoperations, fuel and electrical transmission line installations, etc.

In the interest of ecology it is of utmost importance to restore theland to a viable natural state. This can be accomplished by refillingand grading denuded land areas and thereafter planting with either aground cover, such as grass, with agricultural crops or with trees. Insuch large scale planting operations, it is of considerable importancethat the plant seeds be applied uniformly and that the operation beaccomplished economically, that is, quickly and without wasting seeds.

While various conventional ground-operated mechanical spreaders arecapable of applying seed evenly and without wastage over large areas,they operate rather slowly due to the inherent speed limitation imposedthereon by virtue of the fact that they are land based. For example,conventional ground-based mechanical spreaders are incapable ofeffectively applying seed at a rate greater than 10 to 12 acres perhour.

Hydraulic, ground-operated seeding equipment such as large centrifualpumps, rubber covered gear pumps and progressive cavity screw pumps havebeen used to deliver combinations of seed, fertilizer and mulch to areasto be seeded. While such equipment is capable of higher rates of seedapplication than mechanical spreaders, such equipment is ratherexpensive and is relatively inaccurate.

As an alternative to the use of ground-based seeding techniques, it hasbeen suggested to utilize aircraft to dispense dry seed to a target areain a manner analogous to conventional crop spraying. While such atechnique enables the use of higher seed application rates due to thehigher land traversal speeds, such aerial seeding is, nevertheless,quite inefficient since the dry seed has a tendency to segregate anddrift widely when dispensed into the air. This action frequently resultsin an extremely uneven application of seed on the target area and theapplication of seed to non-target areas adjacent the target area.Accordingly, when applying dry seed aerially, it has been foundnecessary to dispense significantly more seed than would be necessarywhen using ground-based spreading equipment in order to insure thatsufficient seed reaches the target area.

In order to overcome the inherent drifting problems of aerial dryseeding, it has been proposed to dispense an aqueous slurry of seed intothe air, in lieu of dispensing dry seed therein. Although such slurries,when dispensed aerially, tend to drift somewhat less than dry seed,significant drifting, nevertheless, still occurs as the shear forces ofthe wind separate the fluid and the seed. This is particularly true athigh aircraft speeds or in high winds.

Furthermore, the equipment used to aerially dispense seed slurries isrelatively large and expensive and is frequently jammed by the seeds asthe seeds settle out of the slurry.

As is known to those skilled in the art, it is extremely difficult tomove or pump seed or other particulate matter through hydraulicequipment. Accordingly equipment for performing such action isnecessarily very large to provide large passageways through which theseeds can pass without jamming or being damaged by the pumps, valves,elbows, etc. making up the equipment. Heretofore, it has been unheard ofto move seed or other particulate matter through small hydraulicequipment without jamming or damaging the equipment or the seed.

In large scale farm operations crop seed is normally planted in rows,with the seeds being equally spaced in the rows to effect uniform growthof the crop and to simplify the harvesting operation. Owing to the factthat aerially dispensed seeds tend to segregate and drift, aerialseeding techniques have not heretofore been used with success inplanting crop seed.

Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to overcome thedisadvantages of the prior art in applying particulate matter to atarget area on the ground from above the ground.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a method andapparatus to obtain a uniform distribution of seed or other particulatematter on a target area on the ground from above the ground.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a method andapparatus for rapidly providing a line of uniformly spaced seeds alongthe ground from above the ground.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a method andapparatus for dispensing seed into the air and for precluding thesegregation and drifting thereof such that the seed is deposited on atarget area in a well defined pattern.

It is yet still a further object of this invention to provide a methodand apparatus for dispensing seed in the air and for precluding thesegregation and drifting thereof such that the seed is deposited on atarget area in a well defined pattern and is held in place therein andin a manner to enhance germination.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method of preparingseeds or other particulate matter for passage through hydraulicequipment.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a method forpumping seeds or other particulate matter through hydraulic equipment.

These and other objects of this invention are achieved by providing amethod for depositing particulate matter in a well defined pattern in anarea on the ground from above the ground. The method comprises the stepsof providing a mixture of particulate matter and a viscous, elasticcarrier fluid. The mixture is dispensed in the air above the area whilethe equipment traverses the area. The carrier fluid entrains theparticles of the particulate matter in order to preclude them fromsegregating and drifting widely as the particles drop to the ground suchthat the particles are deposited generally evenly over said area.

Other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a method ofpreparing particulate matter for pumping by hydraulic equipment. Themethod comprises the steps of mixing the particulate matter with aviscous, elastic carrier fluid to form a suspension for supply to saidequipment.

Still other objects of this invention are achieved by providing a methodof pumping particulate matter through hydraulic equipment. The methodcomprises the steps of preparing the particulate matter by mixing itwith a viscous, elastic carrier fluid to form a suspension andthereafter pumping said suspension through said equipment.

Still other objects of this invention are achieved by providingapparatus for dispensing particulate matter in a well defined area onthe ground from above the ground. The particulate matter is suspended ina viscous, elastic carrier fluid. The apparatus comprises a dispensinghead having an input chamber and at least one outlet nozzle coupled tosaid chamber, means for feeding the suspension to the chamber, and valvemeans for adjusting the rate at which the suspension is supplied to thechamber.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of apparatus inaccordance with one aspect of this invention for broadcasting seed orother particulate matter from the air to a target area on the ground;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a portion of apparatus inaccordance with another aspect of this invention for applying a line ofseed or other particulate matter from the air to a target area on theground;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 8--8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9--9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a top view of a portion of the target area showing the welldefined pattern that seed or other particulate is deposited thereon bythe apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a top view of a portion of the target area showing two linesof seed or other particulate matter as applied by the apparatus shown inFIG. 6; and

FIG. 12 is an elevational view of a portion of alternative means for usewith the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 6.

Referring now to the various figures of the drawing wherein likereference characters refer to like parts, there is shown in FIG. 1apparatus 20 in accordance with one embodiment of this invention forbroadcasting a mixture 22 of seed and/or other particulate matter and acarrier fluid into the air to deposit it in a well defined pattern on atarget area on the ground in accordance with one method aspect of thisinvention.

The carrier fluid is a viscous, elastic, aqueous fluid whose viscosityapproaches that of an invert emulsion and serves to entrain seed orother particulate matter therein. In accordance with the preferredembodiment of this invention, the carrier fluid basically comprises aninvert-emulsion liquid polyacrylic terpolymer concentrate, such as thatdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,624,019, and water. Such concentrates,hereinafter referred to as polymeric concentrates, are sold under theregistered trademarks "LoDrift" by Amchem Products, Inc., Ambler, Pa.19002 and "EnDrift" by Nalco Chemical Company, Chicago, Ill. However, itwill readily occur to those skilled in the art how to formulate otherviscous carrier media of varying compositions for use in connection withthe present inventions.

Depending upon desired application, the concentration of the polymericconcentrate in the carrier fluid is preferably within the range of onepart concentrate in fifty parts water to one part concentrate in twohundred parts water. Additionally, a monotoxic surfactant compatiblewith all constituents such as X-77 obtainable from Colliodal Products,Inc. is added to the carrier fluid. The purpose of the surfactant is toact as a wetting agent to thereby aid in the dispersion of the polymericconcentrate in the water. In general, many surfactants are compatible inmaking up the carrier fluid. While anionic, cationic and nonionicsurfactants may be used, it is preferable to use a nonionic surfactant,particularly when the particulate matter includes seeds, since suchsurfactants are generally less toxic to seed.

In some applications it may be desired to premix the seed and/orparticulate matter and the carrier fluid prior to the dispensingoperation. When premixed, the seed and/or other particulate matter andthe carrier fluid form a suspension with the particles generallyuniformly dispersed therein. In premixing the components, it has beenfound that the seeds and/or other particulate matter can be uniformlydispersed in the carrier fluid more quickly if the seed or otherparticulate matter is added to the carrier fluid. The carrier fluid isprepared by adding the surfactant to water, then the polymer is addedthereto. If any trace additives are to be used, they are added to thefluid last. As an alternative to premixing, the seed or otherparticulate matter may in some applications be introduced into thecarrier fluid immediately prior to dispensing.

Whether premixed or mixed immediately prior to dispension, the seedand/or other matter becomes entrained in the carrier fluid. In fact, ithas been found that the carrier fluid seems to maintain any particulardispersion pattern of the seed and/or particulate matter produced duringthe mixing operation. This feature is of considerable significance inensuring that the seed and/or other particulate matter passes easilythrough the equipment used to dispense it and that the seed and/or otherparticulate matter is dispensed in a relatively uniform and controlledpattern.

In accordance with this invention, the entrained seed may be of the sameor different species and/or the same or different density and/or shapeand may be pregerminated or partially pregerminated. Furthermore,additives such as inert planting media, like Attaclay or Fullers Earth,growth regulators, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, bactericidesand fertilizers may also be included in the mixture either singly or incombination.

Once dispensed into the air, the carrier fluid acts to prevent theentrained seed and/or particulate matter from segregating and driftingwidely. In addition, the carrier fluid serves to weigh the seed down.The combined effect of these features is to ensure that the dispensedseed drops accurately to the target area so as to be applied uniformlyand in a well defined pattern thereon. Furthermore, once on the ground,the viscous carrier fluid serves to hold the seed in place to reduce thetendency of the seed to be moved by environmental conditions, whileproviding a moist and hence favorable environment for the seed togerminate.

The apparatus 20 for broadcasting the seed into the air is adapted to besupported and carried over the target area by any suitable means. Asshown in FIG. 1, the means comprises a helicopter 24, but it is to beunderstood that such means may alternately comprise otheraerodynamically supported equipment, such as fixed wing aircraft,hovercraft, etc. In fact, in some applications, partially or totallyland-based equipment may be used.

When broadcasting seed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thisinvention, the seeding is accomplished by aerodynamically supportedequipment to enable land traversal speeds of up to 30 m.p.h. whichpermits the seeding of up to 40 acres per hour, a rate approximatelyfour times faster than prior art seeding techniques.

As can be seen, apparatus 20 basically comprises means 26 for storingseed and carrier fluid, a dispensing head 28 for spraying the mixture 22of seed and carrier fluid into the air and means 30 for supplying theseed and carrier fluid to the dispensing head.

The means 26 comprise a pair of holding tanks in which a premixedsuspension of seed and/or other particulate matter and carrier fluid isstored. Each tank includes an outlet (not shown) in its bottom wall. Theoutlet of each tank is coupled to a respective pipe or conduit 32. Theconduits extend vertically downward from the bottom wall of the tank andthen bend at an elbow 34 to extend horizontally. The horizontallyextending conduits merge at a yoke 36 (FIG. 2) to form the main feedconduit 38.

In most operations, the suspension 22 is fed by gravity from the tanksthrough the respective outlets and associated conduits to the dispensinghead 28. However, in some applications, it may be desirable to eitherpressurize the tanks 26 or to provide a pump in the supply means 30,i.e. within conduits 32 and 38, to force the suspension from the tankand through the supply means to the dispensing head.

In regard to the movement of seed or other particulate solids throughhydraulic equipment, such as a pump, it should be noted that when suchsolids are put into a thin, non-elastic liquid medium, such as water,for use in hydrauliic equipment, the solids tend to precipitate andsegregate and hence do not flow uniformly through the pipes and tubes ofthe equipment. In addition, the solids tend to jam up when passed aroundsharp corners or through relatively small apertures or when pressurizedor placed under the influence of centrifugal force.

In accordance with another method aspect of this invention, seed and/orother particulate matter is prepared for use in conventional hydraulicequipment by mixing the seeds or other particulate matter with anelastic carrier fluid of the type described heretofore. In so doing, thesolid particles become uniformly distributed in the liquid and do notseparate therefrom due to hydraulic pressure or centrifugal force. Thisenables the particles to be readily passed through conventional andrelatively small hydraulic equipment, such as small positivedisplacement pumps, without jamming the equipment or damaging theparticles.

The dispensing head 28 of apparatus 20 is a rotating spraying deviceand, as can be seen in FIG. 3, basically comprises rotating means (to bedescribed later) forming an input chamber 40 to which a plurality ofoutlet nozzles 42 are coupled, a stationary, central feed tube 44 and avalve assembly 46. The feed tube is provided to carry the suspensionfrom the main feed conduit 38 of the supply means 30 to the inputchamber 40, with the valve assembly regulating the rate of flow of thesuspension.

The central feed tube is an elongated tubular member and includes a pairof ends. The upper end of the feed tube is sealed by a sight-glassassembly 47 for enabling one to look into the feed tube for maintenancepurposes. The lower end of the feed tube is designated by the referencenumeral 48 and serves as the valve seat for the valve means 46 such thatwhen opened, it serves as the passageway through which the suspensionpasses into the chamber 40.

A lateral opening 50 is provided in the wall of the central feed tubeadjacent the sight-glass assembly. An input pipe 52 is connected to thewall of the central feed tube contiguous with the opening 50 thereinsuch that the interior of pipe 52 communicates with the interior of thecentral feed tube. A mounting flange 54 is provided at the FREE end ofthe input pipe and is connected to a corresponding flange at the freeend of the feed conduit 38 such that the pipe 52 is in communicationwith the conduit 38.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the interior of a hollow shell 56 forms theinput chamber 40. The shell 56 includes a circular side wall 58 and aplanar bottom wall 60. A plurality of orifices 62 are provided equallyspaced around the periphery of the side wall 58 and extend therethrough,with the orifices being disposed immediately adjacent to the bottom wall60. Each orifice is threaded. A plurality of tapered fingers 64,including threaded ends 66 are screwed into respective threaded orifices62. Each finger includes a passageway 68 extending throughout its entirelength and which communicates with the interior of the chamber 40 whenthe finger is screwed into its associated orifice. The free end of eachfinger is open and defines the nozzle 42.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, the finger 64 extends in a generallyradial direction to the longitudinal axis of the shell 56 while alsoextending downwardly at an acute angle to said axis. The shell 56 andfingers 64 extending therefrom together form what is referred tohereinafter as a spider and is given the reference numeral 70. Thespider is adapted to be rotated rapidly, e.g. at 250-300 RPM, by meansto be described later. The centrifugal force produced by the rapidrotation of the spider has the effect of forcing the suspension which iswithin chamber 40 from the chamber through the orifices 62, thecommunicating passageway 68 of the associated fingers 64 and the nozzles42 into the air in the form of a spray.

The angular orientation of the fingers 64 ensures that a substantialcomponent of the centrifugal force extends downwardly such that thesuspension which is introduced into the air is directed downwardly. Thisaction facilitates the accurate placement of the suspension on theground target area as the apparatus traverses that area.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, an annular groove 72 is provided in the insideface of the circular side wall 58 and connects the orifices 62 disposedtherein. The groove between adjacent orifices is of varying depth withthe shallowest portion of the groove being midway between adjacentorifices and with the depth increasing with decreasing distance to theorifices. Such a groove arrangement serves to ensure that the suspensiondoes not become trapped on the inner surface of the side wall betweenadjacent orifices. Instead, the centrifugal force resulting from arotation of the spider forces the suspension to slide down the groovesand out of the orifices.

The means for rotating the spider 70 basically comprise a motor 74,which is stationarily mounted on the central feed tube 44, andtransmission and connection means 76 for connecting the spider 70 to themotor 74 and for transmitting rotational force from the latter to theformer.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of this invention, the motoris an electric motor and is mounted on a hollow platform 78. Theplatform includes a central opening 80 through which the central feedtube 44 extends. The portions of the platform contiguous with thecentral opening 80 are welded to the outside surface of the feed tube tosecure the platform in place. An offset opening 82 is provided in theplatform immediately below motor 74 and serves as the passageway throughwhich a drive shaft 84 of the motor extends. The shaft 84 terminates atits free end in a drive gear 86.

The transmission means 76 basically comprises a main gear 88, a tubularconnecting housing 90 connected to the main gear 88 and disposed aboutthe central feed tube 44 and two sets of bearings 92 for enabling thehousing to freely rotate about the feed tube. The housing 90 includes aflange 94 at its upper end and a flange 96 at its lower end. The upperflange 94 abuts and is connected, via bolts 98, to the main gear 88. Thelower flange 94 abuts and is connected to the shell 56 of the spider 70,via bolts 100.

As can be seen, the inside wall of housing 90 adjacent the flange 94includes a recessed portion 102 into which a portion of one of thebearing sets 92 is disposed and connected, with the other portion of thebearing set being connected to the outside surface of the central feedtube. The other bearing set is also interposed between the housing 90and the central feed tube and is disposed immediately below a raisedportion 104 on the inside surface of the housing. The raised portionserves to keep the bearing sets 94 spaced from one another.

A circular gasket 106 is provided at the interface between the lowerflange 96 and the shell 56 to preclude any fluid from leaking out of thechamber 40 through that interface. The gasket is held in place by pluralscrews 108. A stack of circular seals 110 is disposed about the centralfeed tube and is interposed between the inside surface of the housing 90and the central feed tube.

The rotation of the spider 70 is effected as follows: Upon the receiptof electrical power from means (not shown), the motor 74 begins rotatingthe drive shaft 84 and the drive gear 86 connected thereto. The teeth ofthe drive gear mate with corresponding teeth of the mean gear 88 tocause the latter to begin rotation, whereupon the housing 90 and thespider 70 connected thereto begin rotation.

In order to establish the rate at which the suspension is introducedinto the input chamber 40 from the central feed tube 44, the adjustablevalve assembly 46 is disposed within the feed tube adjacent its open end48.

The valve assembly basically comprises a planar valve 114 adapted tomove into engagement with the valve seat 48 to seal the end of the feedtube and thereby isolate the input chamber 40 from the feed tube andmeans 116 for moving the valve 114 into and out of engagement with thevalve seat. The valve 114 is a generally planar member and includes asoft washer 118 which is adapted to abut the valve seat. A rigid backingplate 120 is mounted on the back side of the washer 118 and is ofsmaller area than the washer so as not to interfere with the seatingthereof on the valve seat. The backing plate 120 serves to stiffen thewasher. A rigid front plate 122 is mounted on the front side of thewasher to provide additional rigidity. The plates 120 and 122 and theinterposed soft washer 118 are held together by a bolt 124, with a rigidwasher 126 disposed between the plate 120 and the head of the bolt 124.

A plurality of longitudinally extending guides 128 are connected to thebacking plate 120 of the valve 114 and abut the inner surface of thecentral feed tube 44. The guides 128 are adapted to slide longitudinallyalong the inner surface of the feed tube to ensure that the valve doesnot skew, irrespective of its position with respect to the valve seat.This action ensures that a precise suspension flow rate can bemaintained at any valve position. Two of the guides also serve as meansto which the valve moving means 116 is connected.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the valve moving means 116 comprises a crankshaft 130 having a flat surface 132 thereon, a bell crank 134 connectedto the shaft 130 and a bell crank arm 136 pivotally connected to thebell crank 134. The bell crank arm 136 is an elongated member whichterminates at its lower end in an enlarged portion 138 having an opening140 therein.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, an elongated connector shaft 142 extendsthrough the opening 140 in the lower portion of the bell crank arm andis normal to the longitudinal axis of the arm. Each end of the connectorshaft 142 is disposed within a respective hole in one of the guides 128and is held in place therein via a respective mounting pin 144.

The upper end of the bell crank arm 136 includes an opening 146 intowhich a pivot pin 148 is disposed. The pivot pin serves to connect thebell crank arm 136 to one end of the bell crank 134. The other end ofthe bell crank includes an opening 150 having a flat edge 152 and intowhich the crank shaft 130 extends, with the flat surface 134 thereofabutting the flat edge of the opening. The crank shaft is disposedwithin a tubular casing 154 having an angled slot 156 cut in its sidewall and through which the bell crank 134 extends. The crank shaft 130is arranged to be rotated about its longitudinal axis by means to bedescribed later to effect the angular displacement of the bell crank. Asshould be appreciated, the angular displacement of the bell crank causesthe bell crank arm to move either down or up depending upon thedirection of rotation of the bell crank and hence results in themovement of the valve either away from or towards the valve seat. Whenthe crank shaft 130 is rotated in a clockwise direction to its extremeposition, the valve 116 abuts the valve seat 48 to isolate the inputchamber from the central feed tube and hence stop the flow of suspensionto the input chamber. When the crank shaft is rotated counterclockwiseto its extreme position, the valve is moved furthest away from the valveseat and the rate at which the suspension 22 is enabled to flow into thechamber 40 is greatest. At intermediate angular positions of the crankshaft, the rate of flow of suspension into the input chamber isintermediate and a function of the angular position of said shaft.

Accordingly, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatby merely causing the crank shaft to be rotated to a particular angularposition, the valve 114 is correspondingly positioned to establish adesired flow rate of suspension to the spider.

The means for rotating the crank shaft 130 is shown in FIG. 4 andbasically comprises an electrical motor 158 having a rotating driveshaft 160, a pair of electrical control switches 162 and a geartransmission 164 connected between the shaft 160 and the crank shaft 130and adapted to cause the latter to rotate under the influence of theformer. The motor 158 is mounted on a support 166 disposed adjacent thecrank shaft casing 154. The control switches 162 are disposed within ahousing 168 adjacent the motor and are electrically connected to themotor. One of the switches is arranged, when energized by means (notshown) to cause the motor to rotate clockwise and the other switch isarranged, when energized by said means, to cause the motor to rotatecounterclockwise. The transmission 164 comprises a drive gear 170connected to the end of the drive shaft 160 and a complimentary maingear 172 connected to the crank shaft 130.

As an alternative to premixing the seed and/or other particulate matterand the carrier fluid, it is desirable in some applications to insertthe seed or other particulate matter into a flowing stream of carrierfluid immediately prior to emitting the resulting mixture into the air.Such a technique is referred to hereinafter as injection feeding and isdesirable in applications wherein the carrier fluid used is lesseffective in suspending the seed and/or other particulate matter thanthe heretofore disclosed polymeric concentrate-based fluids but issufficiently effective to carry the seed from the air to the ground in acontrolled pattern. Furthermore, in seeding applications necessitatingthe use of relatively large seeds or where seed-liquid ratios need to bevaried, injection feeding is also preferable to the use of premixedsuspensions. The use of injection feeding is of particular utility inapplications in which the velocity of the mixture at the emission pointmust be high to counteract the undesirable dispersing effect on themixture which would result from high winds or high forward aircraftspeeds, since the use of a premixed suspension necessitates the use ofrelatively large nozzle apertures which has the effect of reducing exitelocity.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of this invention, theinjection feeding of seed and/or other particulate matter isaccomplished by the use of injection feeding means 174 which is shown inFIG. 12. As can be seen therein, the means 174 basically comprises atank 176 from which the carrier fluid is dispensed into a feedingconduit 178 which is connected to the main feed conduit 38, a tank 180from which the seed and/or other particulate matter is dispensed and aventuri device 182 in the conduit 178 for injecting the dispensed seedand/or other particulate matter into the conduit.

Preferably, the tank 176 is pressurized to force the carrier fluid intothe conduit 178 and to the venturi device, but alternatively the tankmay be unpressurized and a pump may be inserted in the conduit betweenthe tank 176 and the venturi device. The seed tank 180 is preferablyunpressurized such that the seed is dispensed by gravity into an inletport 184 in the venturi device 182 via pipe 186.

As can be seen, the device 182 is a conventional venturi type feedingdevice and includes a main or carrier passageway 188 having a reduceddiameter or a necked-down portion 190 therein, with the diameter of thepassageway 188 increasing downstream of the portion 190 and with aninlet port 184 merging at an acute angle with the carrier passagewayimmediately downstream of the necked-down portion.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the necked-downportion of the venturi device increases the velocity of the carrierfluid which is introduced into the carrier line. The relatively highvelocity of the fluid passing by the point in which the inlet portmerges with the carrier passageway has the effect of pulling the seedfrom that port into the fluid. The resulting mixture of seed and carrierfluid is then carried by the remaining portion of the conduit 178 to thefeed conduit 38 and from thence to the dispensing head 28 for emissioninto the air.

In FIG. 10 there is shown a portion of a ground target area 192 showingthe controlled pattern which the seed-carrier fluid mixture is appliedthereto by the broadcast spraying method and associated apparatus ofthis invention. As can be seen, the seed 194 is generally uniformlyspread evenly across the ground in a controlled pattern of a largeplurality of closely spaced groups or clumps of seed, with approximatelythree to five seeds per clump.

In accordance with another aspect of this invention, there is provided amethod and apparatus for planting rows of seed on a target area on theground from above the ground at a relatively high rate of speed. Themethod, hereinafter referred to as row seeding, entails the use of amixture and seed and/or other particulate matter and a carrier fluid,like that used in the broadcast seeding method of this invention. Themixture is formed by either premixing the seed and carrier fluid to forma suspension or by the injection technique discussed heretofore.Irrespective of the manner in which the seed and carrier fluid aremixed, the resultant mixture, containing the entrained seeds, isdispensed into the air in a narrow stream 194 by moving the dispensingmeans through the air over the target area. The forward motion of thedispensing means coupled with the inertia of the stream causes theelastic carrier fluid of the stream to string out or stretch downstreamof the emission point with the diameter of the stream decreasing withincreasing distance from the emission point to the point at which thestream makes contact with the ground. When the stream is dispensed at aconstant velocity and height above the target area, the diameter of thestream contacting the target area remains constant. The stringing out ofthe carrier fluid downstream of the emission point has the effect ofpulling the seed or other particulate matter entrained therein into thestream. This phenomenon orients the seed or other particles in arelatively uniform line and effects the automatic spacing of theparticles in the stream. Accordingly, when the stream is dispensed at aconstant velocity and height above the ground, the length of the streambetween the emission point and the ground will be constant such that thespacing between the seeds on ground is constant. This feature is ofconsiderble importance in that it enables one to plant crop seed in rowswith precise spacing between the seeds to thereby simplify thesubsequent harvesting operation.

If the seeds are ovate in shape or otherwise include a major orlongitudinal axis, the stretching out of the stream in the air orientsthe seeds so that their major axis lies along the longitudinal axis ofthe stream. This feature can be of significant importance in theplanting of certain crop seeds wherein the ultimate position ororientation of the crop to be harvested is established by theorientation of the seed on the ground. For example, ears of cornnormally extend outwardly from the stalk on opposite sides of the stalkand normal to the axis of the seed from which the stalk grows.Accordingly, when corn is dispensed aerially in accordance with thisinvention, the corn seeds deposited on the earth will all be alignedalong their major axis, whereupon the resulting ears of corn all extendnormal to the row in which the seeds were planted. This action enablesthe harvesting of the corn to be accomplished quickly and easily.

The preferred apparatus for carrying out the row seeding of thisinvention is denoted by the reference numeral 200 in FIG. 6 and isadapted to be supported and carried over the target area by any suitablemeans. As shown in FIG. 6, the means comprise a helicopter 202 but it isto be understood that such means may alternately comprise otheraerodynamically supported equipment, such as fixed wing aircraft,hovercraft, etc. In fact, in some applications, partially or totallyland-based equipment may be used.

When row seeding in accordance with the preferred embodiment of thisinvention, the seeding is accomplished by aerodynamically supportedequipment to enable land traversal speeds of up to 30 miles per hourwhich permits the seeding of up to 1,500 acres per hour, a rateapproximately 10 times faster than prior art crop planting techniques.

The apparatus 200 basically comprises means 204 for storing seed andcarrier fluid, a plurality of dispensing heads 206 for dispensing aplurality of streams 194 of a mixture 22 of seed and carrier fluid intothe air and means 208 for supplying the seed and carrier fluid to thedispensing heads.

The means 204 comprise a pair of holding tanks in which a premixedsuspension of seed and/or other particulate matter and carrier fluid isstored. Each tank includes an outlet (not shown) in its bottom wall. Theoutlet of each tank is coupled to a respective pipe or conduit 210. Theconduits extend vertically downward from the bottom wall of the tank andthen bend at an elbow 212 to extend horizontally. The horizontallyextending conduits merge at a yoke 214 (FIG. 7) to form the main feedconduit 216. The main conduit 216 includes a flange 218 (FIG. 8) at itsend for connection to a similar flange of an input pipe 220. The inputpipe serves as the input to a hollow boom-like member 222 and isconnected thereto and communicates therewith through a hole 224 in thewall of the member. The interior of the boom-like member defines a mainchamber 226. The dispensing heads 206 are mounted at equally spacedlocations along the boom and each communicates with the main chamber 226of the boom.

In most operations, the suspension 22 is fed by gravity from the tanksthrough their respective outlets and associated conduits to thedispensing heads 206, however, in some applications, it may be desirableto either pressurize the tanks 204 or to provide a pump in the supplymeans 208, i.e. within conduits 210 and 216, to force the suspensionfrom the tank and through the supply means to the dispensing heads.

As can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the dispensing heads 206 are mounted onthe underside of the boom-like member and extend downwardly. The heads206 are identical in construction and each basically comprises a hollowshell 228 defining an input chamber 230, a nozzle 232 coupled to thechamber 230 and a valve 234 for establishing the rate at which thesuspension 22 is provided from the boom-like member into the inputchamber.

Each shell 228 includes a circular side wall 236 which is connected tothe boom-like member 222 at portions contiguous with an outlet hole 238disposed in the bottom of the member. The bottom wall 240 of the shellis funnel-shaped and includes an outlet port 242 at the lowest pointthereof. A tubular finger is connected to the outlet port 242 andextends downwardly for a short distance therefrom, then bends at elbow244 to extend horizontally backward and terminates in its free end atnozzle 232.

The rate adjusting valve 234 is of the butterfly-type and is adapted tobe rotated to various angular positions within the shell 228 toestablish the rate at which the suspension is provided into the inputchamber 230. To that end, the valve 234 includes a soft washer 246interposed between a pair of stiff backing plates 248 and mounted forrotation on a shaft 250. The ends of the shaft pass through alignedholes 251 (see FIG. 9) in the circular side wall of the shell.

Each shaft 250 is coupled to means 252 for rotating the shaft through apredetermined angular displacement. In accordance with the preferredembodiment of this invention, the means 252 is common to all of thedispensing heads and all of the shafts 250 thereof are identicallycoupled to the means 252 with the valves 234 of the dispensing headsoriented at the same angle with respect to their associated shaft. Thisarrangement enables the means 252 to move the valves in unison to thedesired angular displacement to ensure that the rate of flow of thesuspension to the input chamber of each dispensing head is identical,thereby ensuring the rate at which the mixture is dispensed, into theair by each dispensing head is the same.

As can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the means 252 include a solenoid 254and a common drive shaft 256. The drive shaft 256 extends the entirelength of the boom-like member 222 (see FIG. 7) and is supported withinplural aligned braces 258 which project from the outer surface of themember 222. Each shaft 250 of each dispensing head is connected to thecommon drive shaft 256 via respective linkage means 260. The linkagemeans 260 are equally spaced along the common drive shaft 256 and aredisposed immediately adjacent respective dispensing heads.

The linkage means 260 comprise a bell crank 262, having an opening 264through which the common drive shaft 256 extends and is connected and anextending arm 266. The arm 266 is pivotably connected to one end of link268. The other end of link 268 is connected to one end of link 270, theother end of which is fixedly connected to one end of the shaft 250 onwhich the butterfly valve 234 is mounted.

The solenoid 254 is mounted on a support 272 under the boom-like member222 and is adapted to rotate the common drive shaft 256 about itslongitudinal axis, via a second arm 274, which projects from the bellcrank that is disposed immediately adjacent the solenoid. To that end,the second arm of that bell crank is connected to the reciprocating arm276 of the solenoid.

Operation of the dispensing heads 206 are as follows: An electricalsignal from means (not shown) under the control of the equipmentoperator is provided to the solenoid 252. The energization of thesolenoid causes the lateral displacement of arm 276. The lateraldisplacement of arm 276 is coupled, via arm 264, to the common driveshaft 256 to cause the angular displacement thereof about itslongitudinal axis. The angular displacement of the common drive shaftcauses arms 262 of each of the bell cranks to rotate through the sameangular displacement, thereby coupling the angular rotation through theassociated linkage means 260 to the associated butterfly valve 234 tocause said valve to rotate to a corresponding angular position. Theangular position of the valve determines the rate of flow of suspensionfrom the interior of chamber 266 into each of the input chambers 230 andfrom thence through the associated fingers 244 and nozzles 232 into theair.

As should be appreciated, when the valve is rotated to the horizontalposition wherein its soft washer 246 makes contact with the interiorwalls of shell 228, no suspension is enabled to pass into the inputchamber and thus to the air through nozzle 232. When valve 234 isrotated to the vertical angular position, a maximum rate of flow ofsuspension occurs.

As an alternative to premixing the seed and/or other particulate matterand the carrier fluid, the particulate matter may be introduced into theflowing stream of carrier fluid immediately prior to emission into theair using the identical injection feeding technique and apparatus asdescribed heretofore. Accordingly, the apparatus shown in FIG. 12 may beused to provide seed into the carrier fluid which is fed to line 216 andfrom thence to the individual dispensing heads 206.

In FIG. 11 there is shown a portion of a ground target area 278 which istypical of a farm field, showing two lines 280 of seeds which have beenapplied using the method and apparatus of FIG. 6. As can be seen, theseeds 282 of each line 280 are uniformly spaced in each line or row.

As should now be appreciated from all of the foregoing, this inventionenables one to readily move seed and/or other particulate matter throughrelatively small hydraulic equipment and enables the use of suchequipment in readily applying seed and/or other particulate matter in acontrolled pattern to a target area on the ground from above the groundat a high rate of speed and without wastage.

The aerial seeding of this invention may be in the form of broad band orbroadcast seeding, such as used in the seeding of land fills orreclaimation projects, or row seeding such as used in the seeding offarm fields.

In either type of seeding operation, the seed and/or other particulatematter is mixed with an elastic viscous carrier fluid which acts toentrain it therein. In so doing, the seed is enabled to be readily movedthrough hydraulic equipment to be dispensed in the air above the targetarea. Once dispensed within the air, the seed and/or other particulatematter is held within the carrier fluid in a controlled dispersionpattern to ensure that it does not segregate or drift widely as it dropsto the target area. This latter feature ensures that the seed and/orother particulate matter is deposited in a controlled pattern preciselyon the target area. Once on the ground, the carrier fluid tends to holdthe seed and/or other particulate matter in place and provides ahospitable environment for the seed to germinate.

In some seeding applications in accordance with this invention, it maybe desirable to use pregerminated or partially pregerminated seed tospeed up the growth process. Additionally, additives can be included toaid in the germination of the seed and to aid the seedling inestablishing itself after germination.

Coloring may be added to the carrier fluid to make the applied seedvisible from the air to enable the equipment operator to determine theareas which have been seeded on previous traversals of the target area.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate myinvention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge,readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

What is claimed as the invention is:
 1. Apparatus for dispensing asuspension of particulate matter and an elastic carrier fluid in a welldefined area on the ground from above the ground, said apparatuscomprising, a spray head and means for rotating said spray head, saidspray head having a common central chamber having an entrance, withplural nozzles projecting radially therefrom and in fluid communicationtherewith, each of said nozzles including an open orifice and with novalve means between said chamber and said orifices, means for feedingthe suspension to said chamber, and a common valve at the entrance ofsaid chamber and in fluid communication with said feeding means and saidchamber for adjusting the rate at which said suspension is supplied tosaid chamber, whereupon said suspension is enabled to freely flowthrough said valve means, said chamber and out of said open orifices asthe result of the rotation of said spray head.
 2. The apparatus of claim1 wherein said feeding means comprise storage means for storing saidsuspension therein and conduit means for carrying the suspension fromthe storage means to the chamber.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinsaid feeding means comprise conduit means for carrying said suspensionto said chamber, means for providing the particulate matter to saidconduit means for providing the carrier fluid to said conduit means. 4.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each nozzle also extends at an acuteangle to said axis.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means forrotating said spray head comprises a motor.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4wherein each nozzle is in the form of an extending tubular arm andwherein each arm includes an inlet port freely communicating with arespective orifice in said chamber.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 whereinsaid chamber includes a curved wall, with said orifices being disposedin said wall and equally spaced about said wall.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 7 wherein said curved wall includes an annular groove connectingsaid orifices.
 9. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said feeding meanscomprises a feed tube terminating in a valve seat at said common chamberand with said common valve interposed between the valve seat and saidchamber.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the common valve comprisesa washer which, when said valve is closed, abuts the valve seat to closethe end of said feed tube, and is adapted to move away from the end ofthe feed tube to enable said suspension to pass into said chamber. 11.The apparatus of claim 10 additionally comprising a motor to move saidwasher away from said valve seat.
 12. The apparatus of claim 5 whereinthe motor is mounted on stationary means and is coupled to the rotatingspray head by transmission means.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 whereinthe transmission means comprises at least one gear.
 14. Apparatus fordepositing particulate matter in a well defined area on the ground fromabove the ground, said particulate matter being suspended in an elasticcarrier fluid, said apparatus comprising a dispensing head fordispensing said suspension in a narrow stream, said dispensing headhaving an input chamber and at least one output nozzle coupled thereto,means for feeding said suspension to said chamber and comprising storagemeans for storing said suspension and conduit means carrying saidsuspension from the storage means to the chamber, and valve means foradjusting the rate at which said suspension is applied to said chamber,said valve means comprising a butterfly valve disposed within saidchamber and adapted to be rotated to various angular positions toestablish the rate at which the suspension is dispensed to the air. 15.The apparatus of claim 14 wherein motor means are provided to rotate thevalve to a desired angular position.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14wherein said apparatus comprises plural dispensing heads.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 16 wherein said dispensing heads are connected tosaid conduit means.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said conduitmeans comprises a boom and wherein said dispensing heads are equallyspaced along said boom.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the valvesin each of the dispensing heads are coupled to one another to operate inunison.